Interrupter for electric circuits.



P-ATENTED JULY 30, 1907. R. H. WAPPLBR 6; o. F. FAYBR. INTERRUPTER FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

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My 7 mm? m m APPLIUATION P ILED JAN. 28, 1907- ITNEEEEE! 4,96

N0. 861,783. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

AYER. RRUPTBR FOR ELECTRIC CIRG R. H. WAPPLER 61: 0. F. F INTE UITS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' as discovered by UNITED. STATES PATE NT OFFICE. REINHOLD H. WliPPLER on YORK, Y.-

INTERRU PTER FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application liled January 28,19fi7. Serial No. 354,399, h

No. 861,783. PatentedJuly 30, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RnnvnoLD H. WArPLERnnd CHARLES F. Flirnn, both citizens of the United States. and residents of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New- York, have invented an Improvement in Interrupters for Electric Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a circuit interrupter and particularly to a mechanical interrupter for electric circuits adapted for use in connection with an X-ray and other similar apparatus.

Hcretofore in X-ray and other similar apparatus, an electrolytic interrupter has commonly been employed.

with suitable support posts 10. -The base a is provided with terminals or binding posts 11 to receive the lead wires coming. from and going to any suitable source of adapted to be connected across the terminals of the condenser,

its free end, through a suitable spring or otherwise, to make contact successivelywith the contact points 16, 17 and 18, which are also mounted on the surface of an application Serial I No. 341296, filed October 30th, 1906, for Letters Patent for tn improvement in X-ray apparatus, it is possible and practical by connecting the operating coil and the c, c, which are secured by means of set screws 20 21, respectively.

d represents an armature shaft whose ends are journaled in the blocks 0, c, and adjacent to the post 11, the shaft d is provided with flattened portions 22 for a purpose to be hereinafter specified.

In a suitable position, a

present invention relates to an improved mechanical interrupter with the particular object of effecting a reciprocating movementin the contact parts in place of a rocking movement, which soiar as we are aware, has heret0 fore commonly been employed; in so constructing the operating parts as to reduce the frict on and wea to a ft 110I1 azmaturefwhich is also mounted 011 the arma- 3 7 minimum, and plot iding means bywhlch the inter ture shaft d, the parts of the armatur e f being secured toruptcr,which is magnetically operated,-is selfgether by meansof screws 23 and the armature being sestarting. cured to and within the fly-wheel and both these parts the set screw 24.

the armaturef is in a horizontal position, it is inalinemcnt with the core 26 of the magnet 71. We also prefer to employ an auxiliary elcctro-magnet i, which is provided with terminals 27 auxiliary electro-magnet, poses,as.will be hereinatter described, on the base a in a position appreciably higher than the elcctron1agnct h and the core 28 of the magnet 2 is provided with a pole piece 29 preferably extending over approximately one-tl1ird the circumference of the flywhcel If.

11 cans for adjusting the position of the fixed contact rt 'atively to the movable contact, and electrical c0n- 11(3ti0l15 to and from the various parts aforesaid to co nplete the necessary electric circuits, as will be he einafter more particularly described.

lo the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan of our improved me :hanical interrupter for electric circuits. Fig. 2 is a si :le elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the fly-wheel with the armature embedded therein. Fig 4 is a section on line :L', 0;, Fig. 3. Fig. 5

.tim on line y, y, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation Adjacent to the post b and also to the flattened poron ine :11, ft, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section on line 12, re, Fig. tion 22 of the armature shaft (2, we'provide a post k, -0 l9, lurking towards the left. Fig. 8 is a section on line whose upper portion is recessed, providing for th'e'arms y, 3, Fig. 6, looking towards the right, Fig. 9 is an end 30, 31, between which a block I is adapted to be reelevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6, looking-from ceived. This block Z is provided with a circumferenlef, to right, and Fig.

sh iwing the same in' a spaced apart position, Figs. 3 5 to 10 inclusive being on an enlarged scale.

a designates a base, preferably made of slate or other tial recess 32 into which and through the arms 30, 3],, a binding screw is passed to secure the block I in the i desired position in the post 1:, which for this purpose I is centrally-and longitudinally slotted as indicated at 34.

electricity, with the contacts and binding posts 12 I 20 the armature shaft -30 in Fig. 6, by'

. 55 ii providing m is a contact shaft vprovided atone end with a movis fiat and whose inner able contact n whose outer face portion n is conical and provided with an irregular surface in order that so far-as possible, the heat generated 5 in this contact, may be readily dissipated. The contact shaft is passed through the block 1 and is journaled therein and surroundingthcsame and extending be tweerithe conical portion 11/ and the adjacent end of the bldck l, we employ a helical spring 35.

The contact shaft m is reduced at its opposite end as indicated at 36, anda bearing plate 0, preferably of fiber or other insulating material to which is secured a contact plate 7:, is passed over the reduced end 36 of the contact shaft m and these parts are secured in position 15 thereon by means of the nut 37 turned down on the screw-threaded extremity of the reduced end 36 or other'wisc. i

The parts so placed that post 12 and the Ruhmkorff coil across the terminals 13. as hereinbefore stated. Then in the position of the parts as indicated in Fig. 1, the various circuits arr l blank contact 16. Now upon moving the contact arm to bear against the contact 17, it will be apparent,-assuming the left binding post 11 is positive-that the current from the source of electricity will pass by way of the Wire 47 to the binding arm 14, wire 49, through the auxiliary clectro-magneti and by way of the wires 50 and 51 to the negative or right hand binding post 11. Now it will be apparent that if the armature is in the position shown ,in Figs. 1 and 2, or a position at right angles thereto, that the energizing of the magnet It will have no effect thereon. If however, the armature f is in any other than one of these four positions,,-the encrgiiing of the magnet h will impart an impulse to the armature j' tending to turn the same to the position at right angles to that shown in also be manifest that upon immediately hereinbefore described, are the contact shaft m is at right angles to (bind in such a position that the flat toned portion 22 of the shaft d is adapted to come into contact with the'lower portion of the plate 0, so that in the turning of the shaft d, the movable contact a through the shaft m and plate 0, is moved to the left in 25' each quarter turn of the armature shaft from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position at right angles thereto shown in Fig. 10, and in each succeeding quarter turn of the armature shaft d, the movable contact 1L through the shaft'm,-is returned to the position shown means of the action of the spring 35, whereby a right line reciprocating movement is imparted to the said contact. In order to maintain the proper vertical position of the plate 0, we prefer to employ a guide rod 38 secured in the block I and passing 3 5 freely through an aperture made therefor in the plate 0, and the contact plate r is provided with a binding post 39, to which by means of the nut 40 or otherwise, the extremity of the wire 41 is electrically connected. t

is a post also mounted on the surface of the base a and 40 centrally slotted, providing the arms 42, 43, between which and in alinement with the movable contact shaft m, an adjusting screw in is mounted. One extremity of the adjusting screw p is provided with a thumb-piece 1) by which the same may be turned and 45 at the other extremity the adjusting screw is provided with a stationary contact w of the same diameter and preferably of the same material as the movable contact 71' whose adjacent faces are adapted ,to come together and be separated,-'-making and breaking the electric circuit. The adjusting screw 1) may be secured in the desired position in the post t by means of a clamp screw 44 provided with the thumb-piece 45, by which the same may be turned, and the adjusting screw 1 may be provided at either side of the post t with rings or collars for the maximum and minimum adjustment of the period of interruption, at a given speed of v the shaft d. As is shown in Fig. 6, we also prefer to provide the adjusting screwvwith a bore 46, extending entirely throughthe same and also through the stationary contact w for the purpose of providing for circulation of aifcurrents for the dissipation of the heat, so far as the 1 same is possible, generated in the stationary contact 10..

- In the operation of the hereinhcfore described inter v rupter apparatus, for use for instance in X-ray work, the lead wires from the source of electricity are connected Figs. 1 and 2 Now it will rent through the same by before named, that due to the peculiar shape and extent of the pol e-picce 29 at the extremity of the core 28 of the auxiliary magnet 71, when the armature f happens to become stationary at the position shown in the drawing or the one at right angles thereto,

tion of the auxiliary magnet will cause the armature f to move from either position and hence to assume aposition in which the same will be affected by energizing the magnet coil h. Hence this auxiliary magnet coil 11 necessary in causing the apparatus to be self-starting, dcpcndingas'explained, upon whether the armature f has become stationary in the position shown or that at right angles thereto, or in any one of the innumerable other positions. Now in mov'- ing the contact arm 14 still further to the right, so that the same bears against the contact 18, the electric cir'- cuits will be as follows '..by way of the wire 47, binding post 13, wire 48, contact arm 14 ,wire 52, through the magnet coil h, wire 53, wire 41, throughthe movable and staand may or may not be 51, to the right hand or negative binding post 11,-it nectcd across the posts 13, that in this circuit, this coil and the magnet coil h are connected in multiple with each other. The energizing of the coil h as hereinbefore explained, causesthe turning of the shaft d through the armature f and in each revolution of the shaft d by means of the flattened portion 22, will cause two makes and breaks of the electric circuit through the contact points n and 'w and when the circuit is made at the said contact points, the magnet h and the Rhumkorff coil the said contact points, the magnet h and the Ruhm korff coil are in series with one another, the circuit being as follows zthe wire 53 lower binding post 13, through the Ruhmkorff coil to the upper binding post 13, wire l 48, switch arm 14, wire 52 to and through the magnet I .so that the self-induced current set up in the primary of the Ruhmkorffcoil upon the discharge of the same, is dissipated in this circuit throughthc magnet h, whose winding is of high resistance comparatively to that of open, due to thefact that the switch arm 44 is over the post 13, wire 48, switch that this energiza-i is only thrown into-the circuit in starting the apparatustionary contactsn'and w respectively, the wire 54, wire being noted that inasmuch as the Ruhmkorff coil is conv are in multiple, whereas when the circuit-is broken at to the posts 11, the condenser is connected across the j energizing the auxiliary magnet 45 by passing the curmeans of the circuits herein-.

by Wires 55, 56, and mayllave a maximum heat radiating capacity, fer to make these parts of silver.

' We claim'as our invention:

1. An interrupter for base, means for closing the electric circuit to be intermeans for adjusting trlcal connections to V Qgu isinn a base. a fly-wheel, an armature embedded in the dly whee'l. a shaft upon which the said fly-wheel and arma-.

ilurc are mounted,

the parts aforesaid.

means foradjusting the poand electrical connections to and from 4. ii'mechanical interrupter for electric circuits, comprisinga base, an armature, means for causing the arma- LLlI to be ,self-starting an electro-magnet 'for actuating the-armature after the same has beenstarted, a movable contact, means for to the movable contact, a stationary contact, means for adjusting the position of the same and electrical connections-to and fromthe parts aforesaid A mechanical interrupter for electric circuits, c0min; a base,, an armature, an auxiliary electro-magnet an electro-magnet for acsame has been started, a imparting a th'e position of the same and elecand from the parts aforesaid.

parting a reciprocating movement to the movable contact through the turning: of said shaft, a stationary contact, means for adjusting the position of the same and electrical connections to and from the parts aforesaid.

' 7. A mechanical interrupter for electric circuits, comprisinga base, a fly-wheel, f y-wheel, a shaft upon mature are'mounted, hearings for the said sha'ft, means for electric circuits, com:

in order that the contacts n and 10 We proelectric circuits, comprising a reciprocating.

net for actuating the armature after having" been started. a imparting a reciprocating movement to the movable contact through the turning of 9,. A mechanical interrupter for electric circuits, comprising a base, a'movable contact, a stationary contact,

means for normally maintaining the movable against the stationary contact, means for moving the movable contact away from the action of the aforesaid means, and means for adjusting the 10. prising a base, a contact shaft, a contact secured to one end of the said contact shaft, a block in which the said contact shaft is journaled, a post-iu which the said block is fixed, means for imparting a right line reciprocating movement to said contact and contact shaft, a stationary contact and means for adjusting the position of the same relatively to the aforesaid contact.

relatively to that of the aforesaid contact.

12. A mechanical interrupter for secured to the opposite end of the said contact shaft, :1 contact on the said of the said adjusting screw and means the said adjusting screw and its contact in position in the said second post. 13. A mechanical interrupter for electric circuits, comprising a base, a shaft having v 'for the said impartinga right line movement in one direction to the said contact and contact shaft, means for imparting a and contact shaft,

said contact.

stationary contact against thea stationary contact and means for ad-- dusting; the position of the same relatively to the aforethe Primary Winding of the Ruhmkorfi Coil, whereby ,Iary electro-magnet for starting the said armature, a magcontact 15.11 mechanical interrupter forelectric circuits, com- .prislng a base, an armature shaft having a flattened porment in one direction against the stationary c'ontact, means for the action of the aforesaid tion, bearings for the same, an armature mounted onthe said armature shaft, an auxiliary electro-magnet for insuring the self-starting of the armature shaft, an electro magnet for actuating the said armature shaft through the said armature, a contact shaft, a contact secured to one end of the said contact'shaft, a bearing for the said contact shaft, means co-actingwith the flattened portion of the said armature shaft for imparting a right line moveto the said contact and contact shaft, a stationary contact and means for adjusting the position of the same relatively to the aforesaid contact.

16. A mechanical interrupter for electric circuits, comprising a base, a movable contact, means for imparting a reciprocating movement to the movable contact, a sta tionary contact, means for adjusting the position of the same relatively to that ot the movable contact and means for determining the maximum and minimum adjustment of the said movable contact. I

17. A mechanical interrupter for electric circuits, comprising a base, a movable contact, a stationary contact,

maintaining the movable contact moving the movablecontact away from the stationary contact against means, means for adjusting the contact in relation to the mov means for normally position of the stationary ec oes;

able contact andmeans for determining the maximum and minimum adjustment of the said movable contact.

18. A mechanical interrupter for electric circuits, comprising a base, a'contact shaft, a silver contact secured to one end of the said contact shaft, :1 block in which the said contact shaft is journaled a post in which the said block is fined, a spring surrounding the said contact shaft and extending between the said silver contact'end thereof and the adjacent end of the-said block, a plate secured to the opposite end of the said contact shaft, a contact on the said plate, means for engaging the said plate and co-acting with the said spring to impart a right line reciprocating movement to the said contact shaft and silver contact,- a second post, a hollow adjusting screw mounted in thesaid second post" in alinement with the said contact shaft, a silver contact secured to the end of the said adjusting screw and means for securing the said adjusting screw in its silver contact in position in the said second post.

Signed by us this 16th day of January, 1007. REINHOLD H. WAPPLER. '.CHARLES E. FAYER.

Witnesses:

A. H. Smumnn, B. M. ALLEN. 

